>>57233914>>57234148HGSS gave him a better redesign but it also turned his character into a self-important unselfaware blowhard autist.
Lance really needs this dangerous and unfriendly edge to him in order for his Draconic Aristocrat themed character to work.
Post-GSC he's definitely been defanged and GameFreak doesn't want to ever treat him seriously or like a big deal.
The same could be said of Wallace too.
He needed his own variation of the champion theme distinct from Red to give his battle more of its own identity and priority:
https://youtu.be/LhjRvi-DYIE?si=OWJ7n5hosYD-_TpD 